Act now to protect the gun registry
Act now to protect the gun registry
On September 22, 2010, less than one month away, our country stands to lose one of our most essential tools in maintaining public safety, the gun registry, during a House of Commons vote.
Due to strong pressure from policing, public health and safety, women’s and victims groups, a report was made to the House of Commons by the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SECU) urging that Bill C-391 be scrapped given the merit of the registry. For more information on C-391 and experts’ position, visit http://www.guncontrol.ca/English/Home/C391/C391.htm
At second reading last November, eight Liberal and 12 NDP MPs supported Bill C-391, along with every Conservative MP. BQ leader Gilles Duceppe and Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff have whipped party votes to defeat Bill C-391. Sadly to date NDP leader Jack Layton has continued to insist that his hands are tied because it is a Private Members Bill (PMB). It is the NDP policy not to whip this type of bill, however there is overwhelming evidence that it is in fact a government bill dressed up as a PMB.
Layton stated last week: "In terms of where the fate of the gun registry lies, there's an enormous Conservative caucus right there that is going to be responsible if this thing is not carried on... Let's be absolutely clear where this initiative is coming from. This is coming directly from Mr. Harper, and it goes way back to the Reform days." The President of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Chief Bill Blair argues "Taking away from us the tools we need to do our job will not make our communities safe. We believe that we can work with our communities and with our parliamentarians to not only retain the tools that we require, but to make sure that they work for everyone".
Please help us remind Mr. Layton that if he plays Conservative games, his party will be responsible for dismantling an important public safety tool that is supported by every public safety, public health and women’s safety experts as well as victims advocates.
The Conservative Party of Canada has been going to great lengths with aggressive advertising and fundraising campaigns. Portage-Lisgar MP Candice Hoeppner has launched a website, www.scraptheregistry.ca, dedicated to her PMB C-391. Ms. Hoeppner has been touring rural opposition ridings with hopes of pressuring NDP MP`s to unite with the conservatives in scrapping the registry. Furthermore, Conservative MP Greg Rickford used a parliamentary website, telephone number and email account to promote an event dedicated to scrapping the long-gun registry. Proceeds from this event were to go to the Dryden Rifle and Pistol Club (see http://bit.ly/bnu1Lw).
The gun lobby is a well financed group with close ties to the Conservatives. Clearly their interests are being placed above the interests of the vast majority of Canadians. Most recently the removal of Chief Supt. Marty Cheliak, head of the Canadian Firearms Program, is indicative of a political climate that silences its opposition. The gun registry is an essential component in maintaining safety, this is what Canadians want.
Please call Jack Layton and the NDP MPs today and tell them loud and clear that Canadians want the gun registry, Bill C-391 is a government bill and should not get the NDP’s support. Phone numbers are below. Remind them:
• Most firearm-related deaths in Canada are cause by rifles or shotguns, which are non restricted firearms. All guns are lethal; we need controls on ALL guns.
• The Gun Registry is used over 14,000 times per day by police including when intervening in domestic disputes.
• Gun control works: firearm death and injury have declined with stronger laws.
• The cost of the long gun registry ($4 millions) is far less than the cost of firearm related death ($400 million). It is an investment rather than expenditure, it is crucial for police, and reduces the number of firearms related deaths.
• Police, public safety, crime prevention, women’s organizations, and others support the existing law and maintain that it contributes to public safety.
Sincerely,
The COALITION for Gun Control
www.guncontrol.ca • Twitter/CGCguncontrol • cgc.montreal@gmail.com • 416-604-0209